Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis

Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis, (7 March 1754 – 16 May 1839), known as the Lord Clive between 1774 and 1804, was a British politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1774 to 1794 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Clive.

Early life Powis was the eldest son of Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive ("Clive of India"), and Margaret born Maskelyne. He was born at Queen Square, Bloomsbury, London, and he was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford.

Political career Clive succeeded his father as Baron Clive of Plassey, County Clare in 1774. However, as this was an Irish peerage, it did not entitle him to a seat in the British House of Lords (although it did entitle him to a seat in the Irish House of Lords). At the 1774 general election he was elected as member of parliament for Ludlow, a seat he held until 1794. He was a member of the Board of Agriculture in 1793.

Clive had a distinguished career in India where he was Governor of Madras from 1798 to 1803, returning home to the thanks of both Houses of Parliament. along with the other militia colonels he was granted brevet rank as colonel in the British Army in 1794.

Family Before his elevation to the Earldom of Powis, he married Lady Henrietta Herbert of Powis Castle, daughter of Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Powis, in 1784. Their children were:

Lady Henrietta Antonia Herbert (d. 1835); married Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn, 5th Baronet. Edward Herbert, 2nd Earl of Powis (1785–1848), who inherited Powis Castle Lady Charlotte Florentia Herbert (1787–1866); married Hugh Percy, 3rd Duke of Northumberland, and was the governess of the future Queen Victoria. Robert Henry Clive (1798–1854); a politician. m Lady Harriet Windsor, 13th Baroness Windsor

Lord Powis lived at Walcot, Shropshire, an estate purchased by his father from the Walcot family in 1764.

Lady Powis died on 3 June 1830, aged 71. Lord Powis survived her by nine years and died at his London home, 45 Berkeley Square, on 16 May 1839, aged 85. He was buried at Bromfield Parish Church, near his Oakly Park property. His obituary in the Annual Register calls him:

Remarkable for his physical vigour, and though he spent some years in India and lived freely, he might be seen, when about eighty, digging in his garden at six o'clock in the morning in his shirt sleeves. He was apparently well the day before his death.